U.S. patent number 5,832,658 [Application Number 08/728,204] was granted by the patent office on 1998-11-10 for system and apparatus for detecting and monitoring the presence of wood-destroying insects.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Carver, Darden, Koretzky, Tessier, Finn, Blossman & Areaux L.L.C., Louisiana Landscape Specialty, Inc.. Invention is credited to Donald G. Randon.
United States Patent |
5,832,658 |
Randon |
November 10, 1998 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
System and apparatus for detecting and monitoring the presence of
wood-destroying insects
Abstract
The present invention is a simple, cost-effective, and
inexpensive system d apparatus for detecting and monitoring the
presence of wood-destroying insects, such as termites and which is
transparent, and in an alternative embodiment, at least in part
transparent. The present invention, unlike the prior art, has
universal surface applicability in that the same apparatus may be
used on a variety of surfaces, whether on the floor, the ceiling,
the wall, or another surface. Additionally, the present invention
is demountably mountable such that the present invention is
removably attachable, and not permanently fixed, to the surface
suspected of harboring wood-destroying insects. Further, the
present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting the
presence of wood-destroying insects by utilizing the apparatus
alone, or in conjunction with a plug inserted into the suspect
surface. The present invention utilizes a self-wicking moisture
retaining bait material consisting of a highly preferred
wood-destroying insect food and in the preferred embodiment of the
present invention the bait material is comprised of tightly rolled
corrugated paper sprinkled with pulverized dried okra.
Inventors: |
Randon; Donald G. (Gretna,
LA) |
Assignee: |
Louisiana Landscape Specialty,
Inc. (Gretna, LA)
Carver, Darden, Koretzky, Tessier, Finn, Blossman & Areaux
L.L.C. (New Orleans, LA)
|
Family
ID: |
24925850 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/728,204 |
Filed: |
October 10, 1996 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
43/131; 43/124;
43/132.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01M
1/2044 (20130101); A01M 1/026 (20130101); A01M
1/2011 (20130101); A01M 2200/011 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01M
1/02 (20060101); A01M 1/20 (20060101); A01M
001/20 () |
Field of
Search: |
;43/124,131,132.1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Carone; Michael J.
Assistant Examiner: Ark; Darren
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Areaux; Raymond G. Charouel;
Lisa
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A wood-destroying insect detector system comprising:
a housing defining an integral enclosure for enclosing therein a
first self-wicking non-toxic bait material, wherein said housing
comprises:
a cover having a top, a bottom rim, a first side and a second side
opposite said first side wherein said cover has formed at said top
a top aperture, and wherein said cover has a side aperture formed
along a bottom portion of said cover in close proximity to said
bottom rim along said first side of said cover, and wherein said
second side of said cover is a reservoir for collecting therein
fluid for maintaining moisture in said housing when said housing is
coupled to a vertical surface and wherein said top aperture and
said side aperture provide direct access to said first non-toxic
bait material, and
a mountable base surface watertight sealed to said bottom rim of
said cover wherein said mountable base surface has formed therein a
centrally located aperture and a base aperture;
a detachable second non-toxic bait material directly receivable in
and directly couplable to a suspect surface; and,
a spear having one end couplable in said detachable second
non-toxic bait material and another end detachably receivable in
said first self-wicking non-toxic bait material through said
centrally located aperture wherein said second non-toxic bait
material provides an access point between an interior of said
suspect surface and said first non-toxic bait material.
2. The wood-destroying insect detector system of claim 1, wherein
said first self-wicking non-toxic bait material and said second
non-toxic bait material comprise a highly preferred wood-destroying
insect food allowing feeding thereon, foraging therein, and
burrowing therein.
3. The wood-destroying insect detector system of claim 2, wherein
said first self-wicking non-toxic bait material and said second
non-toxic bait material comprise rolled corrugated paper.
4. The wood-destroying insect detector system of claim 3, wherein
said first self-wicking non-toxic bait material and said second
non-toxic bait material further comprise pulverized dried okra.
5. The wood-destroying insect detector system of claim 2, wherein
said spear is made of a third bait material.
6. The wood-destroying insect detector system of claim 1, wherein
said first self-wicking non-toxic bait material and said second
non-toxic bait material are adapted to be inoculated with a
substance poisonous to wood-destroying insects.
7. The wood-destroying insect detector system of claim 1, further
comprising a demountably mountable securing means for demountably
mounting said mountable base surface to said suspect surface.
8. The wood-destroying insect detector system of claim 1, wherein
said cover is hemispherically shaped and made of transparent
material.
9. A wood-destroying insect detector system comprising:
a housing defining an integral enclosure for enclosing therein a
first self-wicking non-toxic bait material, wherein said housing
comprises:
a cover having a top, a bottom rim, a first side and a second side
opposite said first side wherein said cover has formed at said top
a top aperture, and wherein said cover has a side aperture formed
along a bottom portion of said cover in close proximity to said
bottom rim along said first side of said cover, and wherein said
second side of said cover is a reservoir for collecting therein
fluid for maintaining moisture in said housing when said housing is
coupled to a vertical surface and wherein said top aperture and
said side aperture provide direct access to said first non-toxic
bait material for moistening said first non-toxic bait material,
for inoculating said first non-toxic bait material with a toxic
substance and to permit direct access by wood-destroying insects
directly to said first non-toxic bait material, and
a mountable base surface watertight sealed to said bottom rim of
said cover wherein said mountable base surface has formed therein a
centrally located aperture and a base aperture;
a detachable second non-toxic bait material directly receivable in
and directly couplable to a suspect surface; and,
a spear having one end couplable in said detachable second
non-toxic bait material and another end detachably receivable in
said first self-wicking non-toxic bait material through said
centrally located aperture wherein said second non-toxic bait
material provides an access point between an interior of said
suspect surface and said first non-toxic bait material.
10. The wood-destroying insect detector system of claim 9, wherein
said first self-wicking non-toxic bait material and said second
non-toxic bait material comprise a highly preferred wood-destroying
insect food allowing feeding thereon, foraging therein, and
burrowing therein.
11. The wood-destroying insect detector system of claim 10, wherein
said first self-wicking non-toxic bait material and said second
non-toxic bait material comprise rolled corrugated paper.
12. The wood-destroying insect detector system of claim 11, wherein
said first self-wicking non-toxic bait material and said second
non-toxic bait material further comprise pulverized dried okra.
13. The wood-destroying insect detector system of claim 10, wherein
said second non-toxic bait material is adapted to be inoculated
with a substance poisonous to wood-destroying insects.
14. The wood-destroying insect detector system of claim 9, further
comprising a demountably mountable securing means for demountably
mounting said mountable base surface to said suspect surface.
15. The wood-destroying insect detector of claim 9, wherein said
cover is hemispherically shaped and made of transparent
material.
16. A method of detecting wood-destroying insects comprising the
steps of:
a) providing a wood-destroying insect detector system
comprising:
a housing defining an integral enclosure for enclosing therein a
first self-wicking non-toxic bait material, wherein said housing
comprises:
a cover having a top, a bottom rim, a first side and a second side
opposite said first side wherein said cover has formed at said top
a top aperture, and wherein said cover has a side aperture formed
along a bottom portion of said cover in close proximity to said
bottom rim along said first side of said cover, and wherein said
second side of said cover is a reservoir for collecting therein
fluid for maintaining moisture in said housing when said housing is
coupled to a vertical surface and wherein said top aperture and
said side aperture provide direct access to said first non-toxic
bait material, and
a mountable base surface watertight sealed to said bottom rim of
said cover wherein said mountable base surface has formed therein a
centrally located aperture and a base aperture;
a detachable second non-toxic bait material directly receivable in
and directly couplable to a suspect surface; and,
a spear having one end couplable in said detachable second
non-toxic bait material and another end detachably receivable in
said first self-wicking non-toxic bait material through said
centrally located aperture wherein said second non-toxic bait
material provides an access point between an interior of said
suspect surface and said first non-toxic bait material;
b) mounting at least said housing of said wood-destroying insect
detector system to said suspect surface;
c) moistening at least said first toxic bait material through
either said top aperture, said centrally located plug receivable
aperture, said side aperture or said base aperture; and,
d) visually inspecting said housing to detect wood-destroying
insects.
17. The method of detecting wood-destroying insects of claim 16,
further comprising the method step of:
e) upon detecting said wood-destroying insects, inoculating at
least said first self-wicking non-toxic bait material with a toxic
poisonous substance.
18. The method of detecting wood-destroying insects of claim 16,
wherein the step of b) mounting at least said housing further
comprises the steps of:
b1) mounting said detachable second non-toxic bait material in said
suspect surface; and,
b2) coupling said spear in said first self-wicking non-toxic bait
material.
19. The method of detecting wood-destroying insects of claim 18,
further comprising the method step of:
e) upon detecting said wood-destroying insects, inoculating said
first self-wicking non-toxic bait material and said second
non-toxic bait material with a toxic poisonous substance.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system and apparatus for
detecting and monitoring the presence of wood-destroying insects.
Wood-destroying insects, such as subterranean termites and formosan
termites, cause more than $1.2 billion in damages annually in the
United States alone. Utilizing a bait material consisting of a
highly preferred wood-destroying insect food, the present invention
provides a simple, and inexpensive system and apparatus for
detecting the presence of wood-destroying insects.
More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus
which is transparent, and in an alternative embodiment, at least in
part transparent, for detecting the presence of wood-destroying
insects. The present invention, unlike the prior art, has universal
surface applicability in that the same apparatus may be used on a
variety of surfaces, whether on the floor, the ceiling, the wall,
or another surface. Additionally, the present invention is
demountably mountable such that the present invention is removably
attachable, and not permanently fixed, to the surface suspected of
harboring wood-destroying insects. Further, the present invention
relates to an apparatus for detecting the presence of
wood-destroying insects by utilizing the apparatus alone, or in
conjunction with a plug inserted into a suspect surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,726 to Thorne ("Pat. '726") discloses a system
for termite detection and control which utilizes a transparent
cartridge removably maintained within a housing. The housing of
Pat. '726 is permanently implanted in the targeted terrain at or
below ground level. Both the cartridge and the housing of Pat. '726
have multiple holes or perforations, which are in alignment with
each other such that termites may enter the cartridge through the
perforations in the housing. In order to determine whether termites
are present, Pat. '726 teaches removing the cover from the housing,
removing the cartridge from within the housing, inspecting the
cartridge, followed by precisely replacing the cartridge within the
housing, and replacing the cover to the housing.
As an alternative embodiment, Pat. '726 teaches using a pair of
cylinders connected to the housing and having a plurality of
sidewall perforations, which cylinders are externally mounted
through a pair of holes drilled within a suspect surface. In this
embodiment, the housing is fixedly mounted to the external surface
of the targeted wooden structure. Again, detection of termites
requires opening the housing, removing the cartridge from within
the housing, inspecting the cartridge, precisely replacing the
cartridge into the housing, and covering the housing.
The special and unique combination of features of the present
invention improves upon Pat. '726 because the present invention
requires minimal time to install, to operate, and later, to inspect
for the presence of wood-destroying insects. The present invention
does not require that the housing be permanently implanted in the
ground or fixedly mounted on an exterior wall. In contrast to Pat.
'726, the housing of the present invention is less invasive and
less intrusive than the device disclosed in Pat. '726. To the
extent that a more invasive technique is deemed necessary, the
housing of the present invention maybe used in combination with a
plug, which is inserted into a small hole drilled into the suspect
surface. It is significant to note that the housing of the present
invention may be utilized alone, or in combination with a plug, and
thus is multi-functional.
Detecting the presence of wood-destroying insects, such as
termites, using the present invention is much easier than Pat.
'726. The housing of the present invention is at least in part
transparent, and in an alternative embodiment, entirely
transparent. An improvement over Pat. '726, a simple visual
inspection determines whether any wood-destroying insects are
present without requiring moving, removing, adjusting, or replacing
the housing or any cartridge contained therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,688 to Robbins, et al. ("Pat. '688") discloses
a system for detecting wood-destroying insect infestations in wood
by sensing acoustic emissions generated by such wood-destroying
insects as they feed. Pat. '688 teaches attaching an acoustic
emissions sensor to the suspect area, electrically connecting the
sensor to an amplifier and a processor, and generating a signal for
indications of the presence of wood-destroying insects.
Unlike the present invention, Pat. '688 requires interpreting data
to determine which signals result from background noise in the
environment and which signals result from the feeding of
wood-destroying insects. The present invention offers an improved
simplified system, method, and apparatus for detecting the presence
of wood-destroying insects over Pat. '688.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,416 to Vick, et al. ("Pat. '416") discloses
insect detection using a pitfall probe trap apparatus having
vibration detection capabilities. Pat. '416 relates to detection of
insect infestation in agricultural commodities such as grain silos.
Pat. '416 teaches an insect trap into which insects enter and are
permanently entrapped.
An improvement over Pat. '416, the present invention allows for
free insect mobility which aids in visual inspection of the present
invention for the presence of wood-destroying insects.
Additionally, the present invention offers an improved simplified
system, method, and apparatus for detecting the presence of
wood-destroying insects over Pat. '416.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,837,861 to Graham ("Pat. '861") discloses an
outdoor insecticide container for exterminating insects. Pat. '861
discloses a hollow hemispherical cover which is removably attached
to a base containing insecticide. The base of Pat. '861 is
permanently attached to the ground by a peg extending from the
center of the base. There are multiple perforations in the
hemispherical cover and in the base of the device shown in Pat.
'861.
The present invention improves upon Pat. '861 in having a housing
which, at least in part, is transparent for ease of visual
inspection for the presence of wood-destroying insects.
Additionally, the moisture retaining features of the present
invention aid in attracting, and thus detecting the presence of
wood-destroying insects. Further, the present invention may be
utilized inside as well as outside a residential home, a commercial
business, or other structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,013,514 to Rand ("Pat. '514") discloses a poison
receptacle for storing and handling poison while in use. Pat. '514
teaches concentric cylindrical containers separated by an absorbent
material and having multiple perforations for access to the poison
contained therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple
and cost-effective means for detecting and monitoring the presence
of wood-destroying insects such as termites. The present invention
illustrates an apparatus with universal surface application for
wood-destroying insect detection on a vertical surface, a
horizontal surface, or an angled surface. The present invention is
demountably mountable, easily attached to a suspect surface for
detection of wood-destroying insects, and, subsequently easily
removed from the suspect surface. The apparatus of the present
invention is multi-purpose and may be used alone, or in combination
with a plug.
The present invention consists of a housing having a plurality of
openings and containing a bait material. Additionally, the housing,
at least in part, is transparent. The bait material preferably is
comprised of tightly rolled corrugated paper sprinkled with
pulverized dried okra.
It is significant to note that attachment of the present invention
is substantially less intrusive (e.g., no digging holes for
permanently implanting the housing or fixedly mounting the housing
to an external surface) than the present methods. In most
applications, the present invention is nondestructive to the
surface which will be monitored (e.g., hanging the apparatus on an
exposed stud). Additionally, the housing is plug-receivable. Thus,
to the extent that a more invasive procedure is contemplated, the
housing of the present invention may be connected to a plug which
is inserted into a hole in the suspect surface.
The plug, preferably, is composed of bait material similar to that
contained within the housing of the present invention. The housing
of the present invention is plug receivable such that the plug
connects to the housing and forms a contiguous surface or conduit
allowing the wood-destroying insects to move easily from a suspect
surface into the present invention. The plug is inserted into the
housing and then inserted into a hole in a suspect surface which is
of similar size and shape as the plug.
The present invention is made of one integral piece (excluding the
plug), and thus is not meant to be reused. However, the present
invention is made from external materials which are of a type
having sufficient strength and durability to withstand extended
use, such as plastic, plexiglass, glass or the like.
A manufacturing advantage is that the present invention may be made
from products readily available. For example, the present invention
may be made from a Solo.RTM. brand plastic drink lid, having holes
punched therein, which is permanently mounted by a watertight seal
to a plexiglass base also having holes punched therein.
An alternative embodiment of the present invention utilizes a toxic
bait material instead of a nontoxic bait material. Thus, subsequent
to the detection of wood-destroying insects, the nontoxic
embodiment of the present invention could be replaced with the
toxic embodiment of the present invention. As an additional
alternative embodiment of the present invention, the nontoxic bait
material could be inoculated with a substance poisonous to
wood-destroying insects. If wood-destroying insects are detected,
then such inoculation could be accomplished by use of a pipette or
eye dropper to add the poisonous substance to the previously
nontoxic bait material through an opening in the housing of the
present invention.
In a further alternative embodiment of the present invention, the
plug may be composed of toxic bait material similar to that
contained within the housing of the present invention, or a
poisonous substance may be applied to a plug composed of nontoxic
bait material either before or after the detection of
wood-destroying insects with the present invention.
There are many poisonous substances known in the art as toxic to
wood-destroying insects. One example of such a poisonous substance
is sulfluramid. Substances which are known in the art as toxic to
wood-destroying insects, as well as those substances later proven
to be toxic to wood-destroying insects, are encompassed by the
present invention to the extent that such poisonous substances are
capable of being incorporated into the wood-destroying insect
preferred bait material of the present invention or of inoculating
the wood-destroying insect preferred bait material of the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
With the foregoing and other objects in view, all of which more
fully hereinafter appear, the present invention comprises certain
constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts and elements
as hereinafter described, defined in the appended claims and
illustrated in the preferred embodiment in the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is an overhead perspective of one embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is an underside exploded perspective view of an alternative
embodiment of the present invention with the plug, showing the
insertion point for the plug.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated
in FIGS. 1 and 2, are comprised of housing 1 having top side 10
integrally attached to bottom side 20. Housing 1 is functionally
transparent, at least in part, to allow inspection and viewing of
the wood-destroying insects or infestation, and to allow monitoring
of moisture within housing 1. Thus, housing 1 allows detection of
wood-destroying insects such as termites by visual inspection. As
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, top side 10 of housing 1 is a hemispherical
shell, having apex 11 and rim 12 along its largest
circumference.
Housing 1 is demountably mountable on a suspect surface, such that
housing 1 may be secured to, then easily removed from the suspect
surface. Examples of demountably mountable securing means include
hook 2, double stick tape 3, Velcro.RTM. (brand adhesive strips,
and liquid adhesives.
Housing 1 is nondestructive and non-intrusive. The present
invention is an inexpensive device which may be used simply.
Housing 1 may be placed on a suspect surface to detect the presence
of wood-destroying insects. Once the present invention has served
it purpose, housing 1 may be picked up and re-used elsewhere or
disposed, as appropriate. If no wood-destroying insects are
detected, then housing 1 may be moved to a new location. If
wood-destroying insects are detected, then housing 1 may be
disposed and replaced by new housing 1 containing toxic bait
material B or, alternatively, bait material B may be inoculated
with a substance poisonous to wood-destroying insects.
The universal surface applicable feature of housing 1 allows
housing 1 to be mounted vertically, horizontally, or angularly. The
present invention is flexible and versatile because housing 1 may
be mounted in many different manners. Housing 1 may be hung on a
suspect surface, such as an open stud or wall in an attic or in a
basement, and then visually inspected periodically. Housing 1 may
be placed on the bathroom floor either behind the toilet or under
the tub, or similarly, on the kitchen floor under the sink. Housing
1 may be placed, upside-down, on a ceiling or ceiling beam. Housing
1 may be hung on an angled wall or post.
Alternatively, a hole may be drilled into a suspect surface, such
as a wall or stud. After connecting plug 30 to housing 1, plug 30
is inserted into the drilled hole. Subsequent to insertion of plug
30 into the drilled hole, the present invention is visually
inspected periodically for the presence of wood-destroying
insects.
Top side 10 of housing 1 has at least one opening 13. Opening 13
may be located at apex 11 of top side 10, or alternatively,
proximate to bottom side 20 along rim 12 (not shown). Opening 13
provides access to bait material B maintained within housing 1 to
allow monitoring of moisture within housing 1 and to allow
moistening of bait material B as needed.
In an alternative and equally preferred embodiment of the present
invention, top side 10 consists of plurality of openings 14 in a
semi-circular pattern proximate to bottom side 20 along rim 12.
Plurality of openings 14 also provide access for monitoring of
moisture within housing 1 and moistening of bait material B.
Opposite plurality of openings 14 is reservoir 15. When fluid is
added through plurality of openings 14, fluid is collected in
reservoir 15, which maintains moisture within housing 1. Top side
10 of housing 1 may have either opening 13 or plurality of openings
14, or both (as shown in FIG. 1).
Bottom side 20 of housing 1 is a flat surface having at least one
opening 23. Opening 23 provides access to bait material B
maintained within housing 1 to allow wood-destroying insects to
forage therein. In an alternative embodiment of the present
invention, bottom side 20 further consists of plurality of openings
24. Plurality of openings 24 also provide multiple access points
for wood-destroying insects to reach bait material B. Bottom side
20 of housing 1 may have either opening 23 or plurality of openings
24, or both (as shown in FIG. 2).
An additional element of an equally preferred embodiment of the
present invention as shown in FIG. 2, is plug 30. Plug 30 may be
combined with housing 1 to provide an access point between the
interior of a suspect wall and bait material B contained within
housing 1. In this equally preferred embodiment of the present
invention, plug 30 is made of bait material B. A hole is drilled
into a suspect surface. The hole corresponds in size and shape to
plug 30, such that plug 30 fits complimentarily in the hole.
Plug 30 connects to housing 1 through plug receivable opening 25 in
bottom side 20. Plug receivable opening 25 is complimentary in
shape to plug 30. In this equally preferred embodiment of the
present invention, spears 31 are fixed within plug 30 such that one
end of the spears 31 remains exposed for complimentary insertion
through plug receivable opening 25 and into bait material B
contained within housing 1.
Spears 31 preferably are made of highly preferred wood-destroying
insect food, such that feeding on, foraging into and burrowing into
bait material B is encouraged. For example, spears 31, may be
toothpicks, which easily are attached to plug 30 and which easily
insert into bait material B contained within housing 1.
Maintained within housing 1 is self-wicking bait material B. The
self-wicking properties of bait material B assist in maintaining
and retaining moisture. Bait material B should be composed of
highly preferred wood-destroying insect food, such as cellulose
containing substances, which encourage feeding on bait material B,
and thus reveal the presence of wood-destroying insects. Bait
material B should be composed of material into which
wood-destroying insects can easily burrow and devour. Such
preferred composition properties allow for faster detection of the
presence of wood-destroying insects in housing 1.
Such types of bait material B will encourage the wood-destroying
insects to forage and burrow into bait material B. An excellent and
preferred bait material B is tightly rolled corrugated paper. The
most preferable bait material B, and the one used in the preferred
embodiment of the present invention, is tightly rolled corrugated
paper which is sprinkled with dried pulverized okra and slightly
moistened.
An additional benefit, resulting from the use of tightly rolled
corrugated paper as bait material B, is the self-wicking feature of
the present invention. When sufficient water is added to housing 1
to fill reservoir 15, bait material B begins to moisten itself by
wicking the water in reservoir 15. Once moistened with water, the
tightly rolled corrugated paper retains water sufficient to
maintain moisture within housing 1 as is preferred by
wood-destroying insects such as termites. The tightly rolled
corrugated paper also provides a simple and efficient means of
connecting the plug 30 through plug receivable opening 25.
The moisture retention feature of the present invention results
from (1) the placement of openings 13, and 14, of housing 1, and
(2) the type of bait material B. The moisture retention feature is
assisted by the addition of fluid, as necessary, through openings
13 and 14 of housing 1. Fluid, such as water, may be added using
any small apparatus for holding and dispensing fluid, such as a
syringe, a pipette, an eye dropper or the like.
Those skilled in the art will find it apparent that changes,
modifications and variations can be made in the details of
construction and the arrangement of components of the present
invention described herein without departing from the spirit or
scope of the invention or from the applicant's general inventive
concept. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present
invention is not limited to the specific details and illustrative
examples as shown and described, but the scope of the present
invention is to be measured by the claims herein and equivalents
thereof:
* * * * *